REVENGE & DIGNITY || CBYB

Where to, mother?

Days turned into months, and months turned into years. Two years have passed since the first time I took over Claudine's body.

I can't really say that I have been adapting to this environment that well, but at least I won't get myself killed, for whatever reason that is for as long as I act accordingly.

Anyway, I have been doing well on my studies and often praised by my tutors, as well as my mother. She really cherished Claudine, even if it was due of the reason that she cannot afford to have another child. Well that said, but I think she can only depends on Claudine since her husband didn't even give her the love she needs, which results her to be wary of his mistress.

I can't judge her though. Being in a marriage without love is something that hard to bear, especially when your partner is cheating in front of you. What I don't understand is why did she throw her daughter into an arranged marriage in the novel? You want your daughter to get a taste of your bitter love life or something???

But, I mean, she wants her daughter to get the dignity, power, and money she deserves. That I can't deny. Money is just that powerful and sometimes it clouded my judgements too. That's what Claudine aims in the first place. She never hopelessly rely on love, nor did she ever expect her partner to love her. Which makes me admire her in the first place, because this girl isn't that greedy and knows where to draw her limits.

"What did you draw?" I snapped from my thoughts as my mother voice called out to me. We were at the garden, enjoying a fine afternoon tea, well she is, I was immersed in my drawing- thoughts, I mean.

I look down to watch my own drawing, which I don't even know what it is since I was so consumed by my inner thoughts.

"Is that a horse? Did you draw yourself riding a horse, dear?" My mother asked again after she examined my drawing.

"I believe it's a black panther" I said rather nonchalantly after looking at my own drawing.

"A.. what?"

"It doesn't look like a horse... that's for sure" I mumble to myself as I scanned over my drawing once again.

My mother cleared her throat after taking a sip of her tea. "I believe that you have finished your study in basic etiquette, right?"

"Yes, mother" I nodded as I put down my pencils and paper.

"Come with me next week. I'm going to introduce you to your cousin's family" she said as I only nodded without questioning it further, and opened the next empty page to draw something else.

Claudine has lots of cousins anyway.

***

I made a mistake.

A huge one.

I stiffened on my seat as the carriage I rode entered a grand white mansion with a deep blue roof.

Shit.

"Mother, where are we?" I ask my mother with a slightly trembling voice.

"Oh? Haven't I told you already? It must have slipped my mind. I'm going to introduce you to the Duchess of the Herhardt family. Behave well, Claudine"

Oh God...